Gearless differential device.



M. HVEEM. GEARLESS DIFFERENTIAL DEV ICE.

APPLICATION men osc.22. m5. 4 1

Patented May 1, 1917.

'nnrrn STATES MARTIN HVEEM, OF BAYLES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T JOHN E FINNEGAN ONE-FOURTH TO SHERMAN BRUNNER, OF LA MOINE, CALIFORNIA.

GEARLESS DIFFERENTIAL DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Application filed December 22, 1915. Serial No. 68,175.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, MARTIN HvnnM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bayles', in the county of Shasta, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gearless' Differential Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a differential mechanism and particularly to improvements on a co-pending application entitled difi'erential mechanism, Serial No. 19,678, filed March 27, 1915.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide "a simple, substantial,

cheaply manufactured differential mechanism, particularly applicable to driving shafts in motor cars and the'like, which is.

so constructed that compensating movement is obtained without the use of gears and the like now usually employed, thereby simplifying construction "and permitting the .engine power to be equally transmitted to the driven axles and wheels and iat the same time leaving either axle or wheel free to take the initiative during the periods of" increased or'decreased speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide means 'for taking up all end thrust transmitted through the rear wheels and driving axles, thus relieving differential mechanism of all unnecessary strain and -Wear.

" head.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a casing which, in this instance,

forms a closure for the differential mechanism generally indicated at B. Mounted interiorly of the casing A is a second casing which is divided into two sections, 2 and 3 and extending longitudinally through the casing A and jonrnaled in same, as at 4, are

the roar driving axles 5 and 6 of the car.

These axles are centrally divided and their:

inner ends extend through the casing sections 2 and 3, and are provided with enlarged heads? and 8. Mounted between the casing scctions'2 and 3 is a bearing ring 9 "which'is centrally divided, as-indicated at 10 and extending'through said ring at right angles to the axles 5 and 6 between the abutting cnds of the heads 7 and 8, is a shaft 11. This shaft is journaled in the bearing ring and is so mounted that it may both-reciprocate and turn in said ring. Formed on shaft 11 is a pair of spherical or balllike projections 7 and 8, and formed in the abutting or adjacent faces of the heads 7 and 8 are recesses 12 and 13, into which the sphere-like projections extend. Pro jection 7 extends into the recess 12 and the projection 8 into the recess 13. Both recesses 12 and 13 are eccentrically disposed with relation tothe center of the heads and.

casing. Projections 7 and 8 will in this manner form a crank-like connection be tween the shaft 11 and the axles 5 and 6.

The two casing sections 2 and 3 with the interposed bearing ring 9 are secured together by means of a plurality of bolts 14:

and in this manner form a unitary casing which is driven directly from the propeller shaft 15, by means of the bevel gears 16 and 17; gear 17 being secured in any suitable manner exterior of the casing section 3.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the interior diameter of the bearing ring is smaller in diameter than the exterior diameter of the heads 7 and 8. This forms one of the important functions of the present invention, as it provides a bearing face or thrust bearing for the heads 7 and 8 which prevents any end thrust imparted to shafts 5 and e to be transmitted directly to the projections 7 and 8 with connectedshaft 11. This structure was not rovided in my co-pending a plication and in actual practice, I foun I ever, been entirely eliminated in the present center axle 5 with projection 8 as a center.

instance, by permitting the bearin ring to project down between the heads and 8. All end thrust is thus taken up by the hearing ring and all unnecessary wear and strain from this cause, is thus "eliminated.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the difi'erential mechanism as a whole consists of a casing to which rotary movement is transmitted through the gears 16 and 17 and that the rotary movement of the casing is in turn transmitted to the axles 5 and 6 by means of shaft 11 and the spherical projections formed thereon; the couplings formed between the shaft 11 and axles 5 and 6 being in reality nothing more or less than ball and socket joints.

In operation when driving straight ahead, that is when the rear wheels with connected axles 5 and 6 revolve with the same speed, it will be seen that power is transmitted directly from the revolving casing B to the axles 5 and 6, by means of shaft 11 and the spherical pro ections, said projections forming, in this instance, a crank-like connection between the two axles. As the vehicle passes around a turn, for instance in the direction of arrow (1 it will readily be seen that the outside ,wheel 20 with connected axle 5 will be turned a greater number of revolutions than the inner wheel 21 with connected axle 6. This is permitted in the present instance as shaft 11 will reciprocate with relation to the casing B sufliciently to permit projection 7 to turn in acircle about the In fact, it would be possible for axle 6 to remain entirely stationary, while axle 5 is turning. The projection 8 will in that instance act as a pivot about which projection 7 turns. The reciprocal movement or mounting of the shaft 11 permits this movement.

A simple, substantial differential movement is thus obtained without the use of gears of any kind; the power from the em gine may be readily transmitted to either axle 5 or 6 with connected wheels and the axles will at the ,same time'be free to take the initiative during periods of increased or decreased speed.

The provision of the bearing ring 9 not only forms a thrust hearing which positively removes the objectionable wear and strain previously described, but it also provides a removable part, which when sufficiently worn by general use may be thrown away and replaced by a new bearing ring.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the device may be otherwise such as the judgment and experience of the manufacturer may dictate.

I wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims and that I do'not wish to limit myself to the specific desi and construction here shown.

I aving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A differential mechanism comprising a divided casing, a pair of alined axles journaled in the casing, an enlarged head formed on the inner end of each shaft having opposing faces which are provided with eccentrically arranged recesses, a shaft extending between said opposing facesat right angles to the axles and also journaled in the casing, ball-shaped projections on said shaft engaging in the eccentrically arranggl recesses formed in the axle heads, means r revolving the casing, and means for taking up end thrust of the axles against the ballshaped projections with connected shaft.

2. A differential mechanism comprising a divided casing, a pair of alined axles journaled in the casing, an enlarged head formed on the inner end of each shaft hav ing opposing faces which are provided with eccentrically arranged recesses, a bearing ring secured between the casing sections and between the opposing faces of the axle heads to form a thrust bearing, a shaft extending between said opposing faces at right angles to the axles and journaled in the bearing engaging in the eccentrically arranged re- I cesses formed in the axle heads, and means for revolving the casing and bearing ring.

3. The combination with the headed ends of the axles, the right angularly disposed shaft provided with the ball-shaped projections which project into the eccentrically disposed recesses in the axle heads, and the casing sections inclosing same, of a bearingring secured between the casing sections adapted to carry the right-angularly disposed shaft and serve as a thrust bearing for the axle heads.

4. A differential mechanism comprising a divided casing, a pair of alined axles journaled in the casing, an enlarged head formed on the inner end of each shaft having opposed faces which are provided with eccentrically arranged recesses, a shaft extending between said 0 posing faces at right angles to the axles an also journaled in the casing,

projections on said shaft engaging in the eccentrically arranged recesses, formed in the axle heads, means for revolving the casing,

and means for taking up end thrust of the axles against the projections with connected shafts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN HVEEM.

Witnesses:

. JOHN H. HERRING W. W. HEALEY. 

